Live Illustration in Oxford: Drawing the NatWest Accelerator Event
Graphic recording by Illustrated Live
In June 2026 I was invited to create live illustration in Oxford at the NatWest Accelerator pitch competition at Saïd Business School in Oxford. 300 founders came through, and my job was to turn what they were thinking and feeling into one giant drawing. I worked alongside the NatWest team, Storm Events and the Grix Sisters, who designed the interactive zones for this immersive event.
The brief - Live Illustration Oxford
NatWest wanted something different and innovative to match the entrepreneurial energy in the room, with a bit of wow factor and something nice and interactive for the founders (yes, I’m biased…but live illustration is just the thing!)
The Founder Connection Lounge had three zones:
1. Reflection: what's holding you back?
2. Community: who helps you move forward?
3. Level up: what's your next move?
What I drew
One continuous live illustration of the Oxford skyline showing the founder journey, with the Radcliffe Camera and the city's spires along the top. The left side is a tangle of worries in the founders' own words: "This is so hard" and "What if I mess it all up?" In the middle, a padlock and "Unlock your next move" lead into commitments like "I commit to being BOLDER". On the right, a thank-you note to mentors sits beside a towering cake, with a staircase up to "Level up" and "Let's take action!"
I built the structure the week before, then added to it live on the day as founders' words and commitments came in.
Photo credit: Storm Events
Live illustration beside a giant screen
I was tucked in beside a huge screen, so founders networking and getting ready to pitch could watch the drawing take shape in real time.
How the live updates reached me
A team of helpers spread across the event sent me the best contributions on a WhatsApp group, and I added them to the artwork as they arrived.
Photo credit: Storm Events
The big reveal
While everyone went into the pitch competition, the finished artwork was shown on the big screen, ready for them as they came out of the auditorium. I delivered the final image on the day, so the client could reveal it without me in the room.
Event Tip: How to make live illustration work at a spread-out event
Set up a back channel. At a big event with activity in different spaces, a WhatsApp group between the illustrator and your helpers means the best content reaches the drawing while it still matters.
Photo credit: Storm Events
What stood out
The experiential work The Grix Sisters designed across the zones blew the audience away, and it gave the illustration brilliant material to work with. NatWest later rebooked me through a different team, after I'd worked on their Edinburgh event.
Photo credit: Storm Events
FAQ
Do you travel for live illustration events in the UK?
Yes, including Oxford, London and Edinburgh. We also have team members in the USA.
Can live illustration work at a networking event?
Yes. It gives people something to gather round and contribute to.
Can you deliver the artwork on the day?
Yes, finished artwork was ready for the client to reveal. Event attendees could see the artwork taking shape while they wandered around the event space.
Planning an event in 2027? Hire a live illustrator, or Click here to see more examples of our work.